Herald and Journal,
March 25, 2002

Redistricting shifts local lawmakers

New boundaries ordered by a panel of five state court judges
last week gave three local lawmakers somewhat of a dilemma.

For US Rep. Mark Kennedy, it will cause him to choose between
two newly formed congressional districts ­ District 2 or District 6,
which is where Wright County will be grouped.

The redistricting left him as the only congressional representative
without a seat, since his home near Watertown is located just outside of
district 2.

If Kennedy campaigns in District 6 this fall, he may run
against Democrat Bill Luther. If Kennedy tries to re-claim District 2,
he would run against Republican John Kline, who was defeated by Luther in
the past election, since Kline already announced his intention to run in
District 2.

The Kennedys have strong family ties to District 2.

Kennedy's children attend school in Carver County and participate
in 4-H there, which is inside District 2. The Kennedy family attends church
in Watertown, and he is a member of the Lions Club in Watertown, which is
also inside District 2.

Kennedy also interacts with District 6, which is where
his district office is located in Buffalo. Kennedy lived in Shoreview for
seven years, and attended undergraduate studies at St. John's University,
which are located in District 6.

His wife, Debbie, taught at Forest Lake High School, and
the congressman also owned property in Grant Township, located inside District
6.

Kennedy will announce his decision today

For State Rep. Tony Kielkucki, it will cause him to trade
off portions of Wright and Carver counties, formerly known as District 20B),
for all of McLeod County (now district 18A)

Previously, Kielkucki represented the Howard Lake area,
however, this territory will switch over to Rep. Bob Ness of Dassel. Ness
will also cover Middleville, Cokato and Stockholm townships.

Kielkucki stressed that he would follow through with his
present constituents, even though the changes will not take place until
November elections.

"Roughly 80 percent of my district is new," Kielkucki
said. "But I'm excited about meeting and representing my new constituents."

This leaves the townships of Victor and Woodland, located
inside a newly formed district, District 19B.

Dick Borrell of Waverly announced his candidacy for the
new District 19B.

For State Sen. Steve Dille, it will cause less of an impact
to local voters, other than the expansion of his district boundaries.

Dille went from District 20 to District 18. The new District
18 includes all of Meeker and McLeod counties, plus the following cities
and townships in Wright County: Howard Lake, Cokato, Annandale, French Lake,
Middleville, South Haven, Southside, Stockholm and Corrina.

Dille expressed satisfaction that his fellow Republicans
Kielkucki and Ness fell inside District 18, and were not paired with any
incumbents.

Redistricting occurs every 10 years as the result of the
census, to ensure proportionate representation in relation to population.